Police officials and scientists from around the world will gather in Lyon on March 1-2 for the first Interpol global conference on bio-terrorism.
Delegates from more than 100 countries are expected to attend. Participants will discuss the risk of bio-terror attacks, case studies, prevention of attacks, preparation and training of law enforcement personnel, and the related legal and political framework. The conference will bring together experts in policing and public health to assess the threat, reduce the risk and establish a global framework for sharing intelligence, experience and training, organisers say. Among confirmed speakers are Interpol Secretary General Ronald K Noble, Interpol President Jackie Selebi, the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Zack Zaccardelli.
Preventing and fighting terrorism around the world is one of Interpol’s highest priorities, it says, and the threat of terrorists using biological weapons is one which cannot be underestimated. Bio-terrorism knows no geographic, national, economic or political boundaries. An incident in any one country is likely to cause immediate and profound worldwide impact, Interpol point out. The conference is part of a two-year programme funded largely by a grant from the Alfred P Sloan Foundation. A series of workshops will also be held around the world over the next 18 months – Africa (autumn 2005), Asia (spring 2006) and the Americas (summer 2006).
